A GYM owner claims road works outside his premises are costing him a small fortune.

Chris Watson, who runs the Slaughterhouse Health and Fitness Club, in Clayton Road, Mold, says he has been 'caged in' since utility company Transco dug up the road.

Now he plans to seek compensation for lost trade - and has even put up his own road sign informing people the gym is still open for business.

'There's been so much digging that the street resembles Beirut,' said Chris, who took over the business 18 months ago.

'The front of the building has been fenced off with wire cages, so even some of our customers think the place is closed.'

Transco, which lays pipes for British Gas and maintains the distribution network nationwide, has closed a stretch of Clayton Road from the High Street junction to the car park.

'We have been told access restrictions could last for up to eight weeks,' said Chris.

'If they don't speed things up or do something about this fencing outside the gym I could be out of business by then.

'It's especially frustrating at weekends when potential customers normally pop in to look at the facilities.

'They could easily drive past at the moment and think we are shut.'

Chris said he had no alternative but to seek compensation from Transco.

'I reckon in just a week that I'm £1,000 down because of these roadworks,' he said.

'Even my customers have had to make a 12-feet detour around the fencing to get to the door.

'There's also been a great deal of noise and dust, which is very unpleasant for everyone. The noise of drilling has been so loud that staff find it difficult using the phone. The whole episode has been a complete disaster.'

A spokeswoman for Transco said on Monday: 'Nobody likes road works outside their home or business premises.

'We sympathise with the owner of the Slaughterhouse, but we need to carry out this essential work.

'We are replacing old cast iron pipes with new plastic ones which are stronger and less liable to fracture and cause leaks.

'It's a one-off exercise, and we do appreciate the disruption it's causing in Clayton Road.

'We hope to complete the work outside the gym by midweek and to have reinstated the road.

'If the owner has lost money as a result of the work, and can prove it by submitting the relevant accounts and documentation, then he could be in line for compensation.

'I urge the owner to be patient. We will carry out the work safely and as quickly as possible.'